When a drain is slow, backing up, or producing unusual gurgling sounds, many property owners turn to power rodding—a specialized technique that uses a rotating rod to break up and pull out debris inside pipes. While every job varies, a professional service call usually follows a predictable sequence designed to protect your plumbing and address the cause of the blockage.

1) Initial inspection and symptom review

The technician begins by asking about what’s happening—such as whether multiple fixtures are affected, when the problem started, and whether there’s standing water or foul odors. This helps identify whether the issue is likely in a specific section (e.g., kitchen sink) or deeper in the drainage line.

2) Locating the access point

Next, the crew determines the most practical entry location. Depending on your plumbing setup, this could involve ... Read more »

With spring storms approaching, cities across many regions are ramping up storm drain maintenance to reduce the risk of street flooding. Heavy rainfall can quickly overwhelm clogged inlets, backing water onto roads and sidewalks and increasing the chance of damage to nearby property.

Why storm drain cleaning matters

Storm drains are designed to move rainwater away from neighborhoods and critical infrastructure. When leaves, sediment, litter, and yard waste collect at curb inlets or along drainage channels, water can’t flow as intended. The result is slower runoff, higher water levels in low areas, and sometimes localized flooding during even moderate storms.

Maintenance also supports drainage system health by limiting corrosion, reducing blockages that can force crews to respond during emergencies, and improving overall efficiency—especially when rain events arrive back-to-back.

Main line rodding is a common preventive and corrective method used to clear obstructions in sewer and drain lines. For commercial properties, the “right” frequency isn’t one-size-fits-all—service intervals typically reflect how heavily the plumbing is used, what enters the system, and whether there are signs of recurring flow issues.

Below are the main drivers that determine how often a property should schedule main line rodding, along with practical benchmarks many facilities use to build a maintenance plan.

Start with usage and load

The frequency should rise as the property’s drainage load increases. Facilities with frequent showers, restrooms, kitchens, laundry operations, or high foot traffic tend to accumulate debris and grease faster. As a baseline, light-use sites may need less frequent attention, while higher-use sites often benefit from more proactive scheduling.

... Read more »

Slow-draining showers are a common household problem, but the cause is rarely just one thing. Most clogs develop when hair, soap residues, and microorganisms combine to create stubborn buildup inside the drain line.

While the visible blockage may look like a single mass, it typically forms in layers: strands of hair catch debris, soap scum hardens into a sticky residue, and biofilm—an adhesive microbial layer—helps everything cling together.

Hair: the first layer of the clog

Hair is the main “starter” for many shower drain problems. As water runs over the shower floor, loose strands are carried toward the drain opening. Because hair is fibrous and resistant to breakdown, it can accumulate at key points such as the drain strainer, the curve of the pipe, or any narrowing sections.

Over time, hair mats trap additional particles—dead skin, lint, and small soap pa ... Read more »